So, today's Claire's first day at daycare, and I'm doing okay! This morning, Claire slept in late (as she's been doing recently), so I steathily moved her to her pack and play so that I could get dressed, pump, and pack my lunch. She woke up while James was getting dressed, and between the two of us, we did a really good job getting us ready as well as her bottles made, bag packed, and ready to go.
When we got there, Claire had no problems going to the teacher and hung out in her lap for a little while. James and I had to fill out some paperwork, so we alternated doing that and peeking in the window of the room a few times. When we were leaving, she'd moved onto the floor and was starting to play with the other little kiddos.
My (sort of) funny story? So this afternoon about 3:30 (while I'm in a meeting) my cell phone rings and my caller ID shows "Primrose School of Castle Hills" since I added them to my contacts. I blaze out of the conference room already answering my phone while walking.
"Hello, Mrs. Pee? This is xxx from the Primrose School of Castle Hills. How are you doing?" Seriously, HOW AM I DOING?! Daycare calls in the middle of the first day I drop her off to ask me how I'm doing?! She should have just skipped any niceties and tell me WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BABY!
Needless to say, I skipped the "I'm fine" and went with "what's wrong?". (pause) "We were wondering if there was a second jar of food for her lunch." O-M-G ... so, after I caught my breath and stopped having my minor embolism, I told her that it was in the fridge behind her bottles. I kept her on the phone some extra time to ask how Claire's day was and how things were going (I figured I was due given the heart attack); fine on all accounts.
This evening when I went to pick her up, she was all smiles. I can almost pretend that it was smiles from beginning to end, but I have a feeling that wasn't exactly the case. There were a few rough patches today, I know, but I also know that it'll be fine and that she's going to be well taken care of by the folks there. She took 2 4-oz bottles (may be a first!), ate food, and played with the other kids. Her little friend Sofia will be joining her in a few weeks, so that will be fun, too.
All in all, a good first day.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Happy Anniversary
This past Friday, August 15th, was James and my 7-year anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been 7 years since we said our vows in The Chapel by the Sea at Kauai Lagoons. It truly was a fairy tale wedding with most of our family and closest friends attending. I'm so ready to go back! Vow renewals, anyone?
Not only is it our 7-year wedding anniversary, 8/22 marks TEN YEARS since James and my unofficial first date. It's hard to say when James had our very first date ... was it the lunch at Villa Capri? When he helped me move in? Our actual first date at The Oasis and Putt-Putt? Really, it doesn't matter which event was truly the first ... what's most important is that, even 10 YEARS later, I'm still so in love with this amazing man and honored that he's my husband.
It's hard to imagine that I ever would have found someone that complements me as well as James. He washes, I fold; I load the dishes, he unloads; he'll take mornings while I stay up at night. There is compromise, laughter, and knowing that tomorrow is another day. James makes me want to be a better wife and mother because he raises the bar every day ... plus I need to make sure he doesn't get that 7-year itch!
In the past, James and I have used our anniversary (first date or wedding) as an excuse to go on a trip somewhere. But, with the new house and baby, we decided to just keep it local this year. Instead, we had a lunch date to L&L Hawaiian BBQ in Lewisville, and yet it was still perfect. Together, we tried something new, we reminisced about the years we've been together, and we even brought in a little bit of the Islands. Even if I can't renew my vows in Hawaii anytime soon, I'd marry him all over again. Here's to 7 (or 10!) years together and 70 (or 100!) more!
For those who haven't seen this, here's a video that my little bro Dwo put together for us of our wedding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vua3d0U_wnU
Not only is it our 7-year wedding anniversary, 8/22 marks TEN YEARS since James and my unofficial first date. It's hard to say when James had our very first date ... was it the lunch at Villa Capri? When he helped me move in? Our actual first date at The Oasis and Putt-Putt? Really, it doesn't matter which event was truly the first ... what's most important is that, even 10 YEARS later, I'm still so in love with this amazing man and honored that he's my husband.
It's hard to imagine that I ever would have found someone that complements me as well as James. He washes, I fold; I load the dishes, he unloads; he'll take mornings while I stay up at night. There is compromise, laughter, and knowing that tomorrow is another day. James makes me want to be a better wife and mother because he raises the bar every day ... plus I need to make sure he doesn't get that 7-year itch!
In the past, James and I have used our anniversary (first date or wedding) as an excuse to go on a trip somewhere. But, with the new house and baby, we decided to just keep it local this year. Instead, we had a lunch date to L&L Hawaiian BBQ in Lewisville, and yet it was still perfect. Together, we tried something new, we reminisced about the years we've been together, and we even brought in a little bit of the Islands. Even if I can't renew my vows in Hawaii anytime soon, I'd marry him all over again. Here's to 7 (or 10!) years together and 70 (or 100!) more!
For those who haven't seen this, here's a video that my little bro Dwo put together for us of our wedding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vua3d0U_wnU
Thursday, August 14, 2008
i ...
I saw this on Corrie’s blog and really liked what she shared. I took a stab at mine below and found out it’s a lot harder than you would think! If you happen to do this yourself, send me your answers!
- i am: proud to be a wife, mother, daughter, friend, employee, manager, woman
- i dream: in 1st person and techno-color
- i think: I’m a pretty nice person, for the most part
- i know: that I know so little
- i want: to retire in 10 years (you hear that, James?)
- i have: everything that I truly need
- i wish: I could work part-time with the same money and benefits
- i hate: being so far away from family
- i miss: sleep … glorious, uninterrupted, just-because-you-can-sleep sleep!
- i fear: that I’ll forget to stop and smell the roses
- i feel: blessed to have so much
- i hear: the wheels turning as I scheme up a new adventure
- i smell: with my nose much better than James
- i crave: hugs and kisses
- i search: for my keys every morning because I never put them in the same place
- i wonder: what I’ll be when I grow up
- i regret: nothing for too long; what’s the point?
- i love: wholly with no reservations
- i ache: having to leave Claire every morning
- i care: too much sometimes
- i always: see things from both sides of the story
- i am not: the person who will decide where to eat
- i believe: in miracles
- i dance: with Claire to make her laugh
- i sing: out loud in the car, usually with the wrong lyrics
- i cry: in secret
- i don’t always: say what I’m really thinking
- i hope: I am a good role model for my daughter
- i fight: as little as possible but to the death for what I truly believe in
- i write: emails instead of picking up the phone
- i lose: my train of thought more than I … what was I saying?
- i listen: with my heart, then my head
- i can usually be found: online
- i need: to admit when I need help
- i am happy about: being alive
- i desire: to be a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend
Friday, August 8, 2008
Work-Life Balance
Well, here I am at midnight stealing a moment to type a post on my blog ... taking a break from doing some necessary tasks for work while simultaneously hand-pumping so that I don't disturb my sleeping baby and husband not 10 feet away. Hmmm ... is this what they mean by "work-life balance"?
Seriously, though, it's a tough job being a working mom. I am absolutely not knocking being a stay-at-home mom which I think, in so many ways, is even harder than working. SAHM's are on-call 24/7, and I've found that they often suddenly feel as though they need to bear the weight of the home on their shoulders: women who never cooked before crack open those cookbooks; they clean like they've never cleaned before; they somehow become that June Cleaver they never imagined being. But I do have to say that, while I may not be home with Claire all day during the day, there is no such thing as a part-time mom. Even as I'm at work in a meeting or driving to the office, I'm balancing thinking about what I need to do that day with what needs the baby has right now and what I need to do when I get home for her.
However, I made the decision to keep working as an investment into both James and my future. I could selfishly say that I want to stay home, but I need to think of the longer term impacts and whether that's truly what I want ... sigh.
Another decision I made was that I'm no longer going to pump at the office. Claire is officially 6 months, and my supply is pretty much nonexistant anyways. Starting today, I've decided to pump once in the morning (a measly 2oz) and once at night (another measly 2oz) so that she can get at least some breastmilk each day, even if it's just one feeding. We'll see how long I can keep that up until my 4oz wane to 3, 2, 1 ... I would stop altogether, but that whole "foot and mouth" story of Kenny and Brenna's keeps going through my head -- and with Claire starting daycare in a couple of weeks, I have a feeling she's going to need all the antibodies she can get!
Back to work!
Seriously, though, it's a tough job being a working mom. I am absolutely not knocking being a stay-at-home mom which I think, in so many ways, is even harder than working. SAHM's are on-call 24/7, and I've found that they often suddenly feel as though they need to bear the weight of the home on their shoulders: women who never cooked before crack open those cookbooks; they clean like they've never cleaned before; they somehow become that June Cleaver they never imagined being. But I do have to say that, while I may not be home with Claire all day during the day, there is no such thing as a part-time mom. Even as I'm at work in a meeting or driving to the office, I'm balancing thinking about what I need to do that day with what needs the baby has right now and what I need to do when I get home for her.
However, I made the decision to keep working as an investment into both James and my future. I could selfishly say that I want to stay home, but I need to think of the longer term impacts and whether that's truly what I want ... sigh.
Another decision I made was that I'm no longer going to pump at the office. Claire is officially 6 months, and my supply is pretty much nonexistant anyways. Starting today, I've decided to pump once in the morning (a measly 2oz) and once at night (another measly 2oz) so that she can get at least some breastmilk each day, even if it's just one feeding. We'll see how long I can keep that up until my 4oz wane to 3, 2, 1 ... I would stop altogether, but that whole "foot and mouth" story of Kenny and Brenna's keeps going through my head -- and with Claire starting daycare in a couple of weeks, I have a feeling she's going to need all the antibodies she can get!
Back to work!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Too Soon to Celebrate
Okay, I know it's too soon to celebrate, but Claire technically slept through the night! Sort of. 2 night in a row now, she skipped her middle-of-the-night feeding (yes, she was still getting a middle-of-the-night feeding ... until now!) so she would take her last bottle and not need another until early morn, take that one, and then sleep some more. That means she's sleeping about 7 hours straight (with a little tossing and turning at her old feeding time) then adding another 3 hours as bonus. Fabulous!
Well, there's the small detail that the last bottle was about 10:30 (a smidge later than the 8:00 she was doing), and her "sleep some more" would go until 8:30. It's not that bad on the weekends, but I'm not sure how that's going to work tomorrow when I need to go to work. I have a feeling telling my bosses "well, I can't come in until 10 because I have to sleep with my daughter until 8:30" isn't going to fly.
There is the option that I just get up after the early morn bottle (has been about 5:30), but I'm NOT a morning person. Kim, I don't know how you do it every morning ... and you other moms, too, of course. I think the schedule the last 2 night has been perfect ... now if only I can convince work of the same ...
Well, there's the small detail that the last bottle was about 10:30 (a smidge later than the 8:00 she was doing), and her "sleep some more" would go until 8:30. It's not that bad on the weekends, but I'm not sure how that's going to work tomorrow when I need to go to work. I have a feeling telling my bosses "well, I can't come in until 10 because I have to sleep with my daughter until 8:30" isn't going to fly.
There is the option that I just get up after the early morn bottle (has been about 5:30), but I'm NOT a morning person. Kim, I don't know how you do it every morning ... and you other moms, too, of course. I think the schedule the last 2 night has been perfect ... now if only I can convince work of the same ...
Friday, August 1, 2008
Baby's First Cold
Claire has her first ailment. It's just a minor summer cold as far as illnesses go, but I still feel bad for her. She's got a slight cough (all dry, not wet or hacking) that's actually pretty cute. I couldn't tell if she had just learned she could make the noise or she was actually coughing. She also has a runny nose, but other than that, no fever, no ear infection, or anything else.
Being a first time mommy, I struggled with whether to take her into the doctor. I don't want to be that mom that runs to the doctor at the first sneeze, but I also don't want to be negligent mommy that should have taken her but didn't. That lasted from Tuesday until Wednesday night when I saw the first indication of her pulling her ear (okay, she could have been scratching her head) and made an appointment first thing Thursday morning.
Dr. Frank said (just as I thought but wanted to confirm) it's just a minor summer cold and there's not much we can do except keep her head elevated at night and suction her nose. There's no swelling of the throat, and he even described her ears as "perfect". Given that Claire doesn't seem to realize that she's even sick, I'm thinking I'm okay with the diagnosis.
Oh, except I've had a scratchy throat this week as well and was hoping that I could use her appointment to diagnose myself so that I don't have to go to the doctor. Is that so bad? :) I'm also feeling a little guilty because I'm not sure if I got sick first and gave it to Claire or she got sick first and gave it to me ... either way, one of us definitely gave it to James. Just keeping it all in the family!
One thing did come out of the appointment. I asked Dr. Frank if it was worth still pumping if Claire's only getting 6-8oz a day ... he said yes, every ounce counts. So, onward pumping I go! I don't mind it really, I just wish there were more. The fenugreek did nothing for me, so I'm going to try and get my hands on Mother's Milk Tea this weekend (a blend of fenugreek and blessed thistle). All my other questions I'm saving for next week at Claire's 6 month appointment. SIX MONTHS!
Being a first time mommy, I struggled with whether to take her into the doctor. I don't want to be that mom that runs to the doctor at the first sneeze, but I also don't want to be negligent mommy that should have taken her but didn't. That lasted from Tuesday until Wednesday night when I saw the first indication of her pulling her ear (okay, she could have been scratching her head) and made an appointment first thing Thursday morning.
Dr. Frank said (just as I thought but wanted to confirm) it's just a minor summer cold and there's not much we can do except keep her head elevated at night and suction her nose. There's no swelling of the throat, and he even described her ears as "perfect". Given that Claire doesn't seem to realize that she's even sick, I'm thinking I'm okay with the diagnosis.
Oh, except I've had a scratchy throat this week as well and was hoping that I could use her appointment to diagnose myself so that I don't have to go to the doctor. Is that so bad? :) I'm also feeling a little guilty because I'm not sure if I got sick first and gave it to Claire or she got sick first and gave it to me ... either way, one of us definitely gave it to James. Just keeping it all in the family!
One thing did come out of the appointment. I asked Dr. Frank if it was worth still pumping if Claire's only getting 6-8oz a day ... he said yes, every ounce counts. So, onward pumping I go! I don't mind it really, I just wish there were more. The fenugreek did nothing for me, so I'm going to try and get my hands on Mother's Milk Tea this weekend (a blend of fenugreek and blessed thistle). All my other questions I'm saving for next week at Claire's 6 month appointment. SIX MONTHS!
Lollapeelooza: Redux
Redux - adj - brought back; returned; resurgent
Yup, it's back. We finally brought back Lollapeelooza. It's been a couple of crazy years between building a new house and being pregnant, but we had a good excuse to throw a party this year. I won the Dreyer's Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute again which meant that I needed to get all of that ice cream out of the house!
James and I rented the CH Community Center (such a great deal), got a bounce house from Trish's company Bounce for Fun (we also checked it for quality beforehand by jumping in it), and catered fajitas from Avalon's (I'm all about supporting the local folk). Other than that, snacks and ice cream toppings were all we needed!
The plan was to have the party from 11-2, so I asked to rent the place from 10:30-2:30 (you know me, I like to make sure everything's in order). Fran - the lady that runs the center on the weekends - said it wasn't necessary because we were the only booking for the day, so 11-2 was fine. Save $30? Sure! She even gave us a key to let ourselves in the morning of at whatever time we wanted.
Come Sunday morning at 9:30, we're all up and raring to go. James' dad had already run out to get us bags of ice, the cars were all parked, and Claire was dressed. We show up at the Community Center and the room was filled ... BY A CHURCH! Now, I'm willing to do a lot of things, but throwing a church out of a space isn't one of them. We sweetly asked what time they would be done and were told they usually run until 11. Um, yeah, that wasn't exactly going to work for us. I think they heard the panic in my voice because they said they would get out of there by 5 'til. Gee, thanks.
We spent the next hour getting ready in the lobby (packing coolers, setting up trays, melting queso) while the sermon was happening. I believe it was during one singing stretch that the bounce house was inflated right outside their window (I can only imagine what a sight that was!) and during the closing remarks was when James and I were scrambling into the house to try it out. We had purposely not taken Claire on a walk in the morning so that she wouldn't inadvertantly take a nap, so she fell asleep for the hour right before the party started (perfect!), and, as soon as those doors were opened at 10:50, you can bet your bubkus that we were scurrying into the hall to set-up in record time.
The party itself was great. The first hour or so was pretty much Horizon Lines folks (way to represent!), then there was a flood of folks around noon when babies' morning naps were finished. I have to say, the 12-1 hour was pretty darn overwhelming. Our final RSVP list was somewhere around 60 adults and 30 children, and it sounded like everyone was there during that middle hour. But most of the kiddos were little, so we didn't really have to worry about lots of kids underfoot. Then, from 1-2, things slowed back down again and nicely wrapped up right at 2 so that we could quickly clean up and get out of there for the 2:30 party after ours. They extended the rental on our jump house when they came to pick it up. :)
I only wish I had been able to talk to everyone more and had remembered to take more pictures, but it was so good to see everyone! I can't wait for next year's, but I think I'll give myself at least a few days off before I start planning. Hehe.
It is amazing to think that we have truly reached another chapter of our lives. This was the first party of ours that was truly PG-rated. Not that we had drunken debaucharies before, but this was definitely the most kid-friendly. And it was fun! Does this mean I've finally grown up? Scary.
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